The Little Mermaid – Budget of $250 million – 2 hours and 15 minutes
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Prince Eric sails the seven seas with his men. He wants to discover uncharted waters and find undiscovered land. Eric’s advisor, Sir Grimsby, cautions Eric about carelessly putting his life on the line at sea. There are tales of the Sea King who will kill land dwellers as his daughters lore them with song. Eric doesn’t care because he considers himself one of the people. Eric is grateful that Queen Selina and the King adopted him, but he always feels out of place behind the castle walls. He feels at home on the water, searching for ways to connect his kingdom with others.
Princess Ariel explores a shipwreck for human artifacts with her friend, Flounder. After escaping a ferocious shark, Ariel runs into her friend, Sebastian. Sebastian tells Ariel she is late for her father’s meeting with her six sisters. Ariel rushes to her father, King Triton, knowing he will be upset. The king excuses her sisters and reminds Ariel not to go near savage humans. Humans killed her mother, and he forbade anyone from going to the surface. Ariel regretfully accepts the king’s conditions and retreats to her hidden cave of treasures from the surface world.
The sailors shoot fireworks for Eric’s birthday, and the lights in the sky draw Ariel to the surface. She hides on a lifeboat and overhears Eric talking to Grimsby about feeling out of place. She connects with him but continues to conceal herself in the shadows. Then, a wave hits the ship and takes it down. Eric saves his men and dog but gets thrown off the other side of the boat. Ariel finds Eric and pulls him to safety. She shakes him awake and sings her siren’s song. Before Eric’s vision clears, Ariel swims away because Eric’s people started running to him.
When Sebastian tells King Triton, the king goes to Ariel’s cave and destroys all her trinkets. She tells her to never go to the surface again. Ariel cries and asks Flounder and Sebastian to leave her. Then, Ariel hears a voice in the distance. It’s her Aunt Ursula. Ariel knows Ursula is a sea witch that loves to cause drama between merpeople and humans. Ursula explains that she only offers help to these poor unfortunate souls. Ursula sees Ariel cares for Eric, but Ariel must become human to be with him. She will lose her fin, ability to breathe underwater, and voice. In return, Ariel will get legs. If Ariel receives true love’s kiss in three days, she will remain a human forever. Otherwise, Ariel will be under Ursula’s control for eternity. Ursula whips up a potion as Ariel rips off a scale and gives it to the sea witch. Ariel gets legs and swims to the surface before she drowns. Flounder and Sebastian encourage her to swim toward land, but she gets caught in a fisherman’s net. The man pulls her up and gives her clothes to wear. Her friend, Scuttle, can see something about Ariel is different but can’t quite figure it out. Sebastian screams that Ariel has legs and demands Flounder keep King Triton in the dark.
The people of Eric’s kingdom take the mute and clumsy woman back to the castle. He sees Ariel and offers her a place to stay for as long as she wants. He doesn’t recognize her and is too preoccupied with finding the woman who saved him. Sebastian finds Ariel and tells her to kiss Eric, but she doesn’t remember the contract with Ursula. Ursula put a hidden clause in the agreement. Ariel would forget the kiss clause the moment she reached the surface. Now, Sebastian, Flounder, and Scuttle must get Eric and Ariel to kiss in 3 days, or Ariel will become Ursula’s minion forever.
This movie has all the elements of the classic Little Mermaid while making necessary changes. Fans will see animators took some scenes directly from the original and expanded them with today’s technical advancements and a more relevant storyline. While Scuttle, Sebastian, and Flounder look more realistic, other animals have a ‘Finding Nemo‘ feel (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). The CGI is authentic enough to express emotion but not so life-like that viewers become distracted. The musical performance has the source material’s emotions, vigor, and theatrics. And the new songs blend in seamlessly with the plot. Awkwafina and Daveed Diggs’s rap is a standout that will make you dance in your seat. Melissa McCarthy was born to play Ursula. She didn’t miss a movement, facial expression, or note. She is the living embodiment of her infamous sea witch.
The updated storyline makes Ariel and Eric the same. They are two people looking for more in the world. However, their overprotective parents keep them behind walls because of preconceived notions about others. Also, Eric and Ariel don’t fall in love instantly; their romance blooms throughout several scenes. The conclusion will make the biggest cynic misty-eyed. Don’t miss Jodi Benson passing the dinglehopper to Halle Bailey. The only downside to this movie is that it is too long for children. Most children’s movies are an hour and a half max. This film adds another hour to that running time. So, make sure your little ones go to the bathroom before and reduce their fluids to limit their bathroom breaks. Otherwise, this is a delightful and highly-entertaining film for the entire family.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
It’s just an old lore – Eric
Where are you, child – Sebastian
I can give you a peck on the cheek – Scuttle
What? How can you help – Ariel
I’m not a guppy – Flounder
You, Sire, are not everyone – Grimsby
In a way, we are the same. You and I – Ursula
Find her – King Triton
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